At IOP, Mayors of Rust Belt Cities Ponder Paths for Renewal

The mayors of three Rust Belt cities across the northern U.S. came to the Institute of Politics to discuss their effort to attract jobs, capital, and people to areas that have shrunk dramatically over an era of deindustrialization, emphasizing the potential of universities and redevelopment efforts to create new growth.

The forum, titled “America’s Comeback Cities: A Turnaround Story,” did not shy away from acknowledging the difficult situation facing the mayors of Scranton, Pa.; Gary, Ind.; and Syracuse, N.Y.

The event details described the three cities as having suffered “decades of disinvestment and post-industrial decline,” even as the mayors struck — mostly — an optimistic note.

Ben Walsh, the mayor of Syracuse, acknowledged “the economic trauma that our communities have gone through over the years” with unemployment in the city remaining persistent.

He and the other two mayors present highlighted examples of incremental progress they were making toward ultimately attracting new employers, which Walsh said has been easier amid a national labor shortage. He also touched on the promise of public-private partnerships with small businesses.

Eddie Melton, the mayor of Gary, said that the efforts for renewal often require targeting areas of “blight” in downtown cores with redevelopment efforts.

With blight often comes demolitions, which can be divisive. Melton said his city had made a significant effort to engage residents over proposed demolitions and help decide the direction of what might come next.

“We’re trying to figure out, What do we preserve? What do we demolish?” Melton said, adding that such efforts must determine how to balance the city’s heritage while adapting to a new reality.

The three mayors present all also praised the work ethic of their constituents, who they said offered a strong base for new jobs that might come.

“The perseverance and determination equated to that grit that a lot of folks grew up seeing,” Melton said. “Now that we're in a different era, we have to transfer that grit to our reality.”

For each, the universities within and neighboring their cities — including University of Notre Dame, Syracuse University, Marywood University, and the University of Scranton — served as a promising source of a long-term source of talent, research, and ultimately growth.

Without Scranton University in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton said, “I'm not sure Scranton would have the population that it is, and we sure wouldn't be growing.”

“Notre Dame School of Architecture has partnered with our redevelopment commission to help redesign and redevelop what should Gary’s future look like, but still honoring our past,” Melton said.

Walsh also spoke about the city’s efforts to bridge the gap between local universities and private industry.

“How do we get the researchers that are in the local universities and colleges connected to the businesses?” he said. “Surprisingly, a lot of those relationships didn't exist. And so we created those relationships.”

Ultimately, the three mayors agreed that they were all on a steady path to overcoming a period of decline.

“Part of it is getting those stories out, not letting other folks define us, not letting the Rust Belt name come to define us.” Cognetti said.